Are You Buying All These Half-ton Claims?

spoon059 wrote:

fx2tom wrote:
No, you did take them out of context by implying that a driver towing relaxed is driving recklessly.

You are towing with a 1/2 ton truck and a 25 ft trailer. That is not the equivalent to towing something 11 feet longer.

Towing with a 3/4 ton makes me more comfortable. There was absolutely nothing wrong with my equal-izer set up. The one part we do agree on is that an idiot can screw up towing regardless of TV.

Dude... seriously? Read the WHOLE thing I wrote, not just the two sentences that got your panties in a bunch...

I wrote that if someone drove a half ton that was improperly set up, then moved up to a 3/4 ton and still didn't fix the issues (weight distribution hitch, too little tongue weight, too little tire on trailer, etc) then he was just masking the problems. Normal, everyday driving would "feel" better in the 3/4 ton with everything done wrong. However, when you have an emergency situation or high winds and your hitch and sway controller aren't right, or your tongue weight it too low, you are still going to have the same problem that you did in the improperly set up half ton. The only difference is that you will "feel" more comfortable until the fit hits the shan.

It doesn't make it safer, it just masks the symptoms.

Its kinda like having a cold. You can take cough medicine, decongestants, Tylenol, etc to mask the symptoms... but you still have a cold.

If you are towing within your weight limits... ALL your weight limits... and the truck is properly set up with a weight distribution hitch, sway controller, brake controller set up right, you have adequate tires (LT, not P rated), the brakes on the trailer are properly adjusted, the axles/tires on the trailer are sufficient, the tongue weight is 12-15% then you will be FINE with a half ton. Yes, a 3/4 ton will probably tow it with more ease. So will a 1 ton, so will a class 5 truck or a class 8 truck.

The question, however, is WILL A HALF TON SAFELY PULL THESE LOADS? The answer is YES... if it is properly set up.

No different that a 3/4 ton can safely pull within its limits if properly set up. No different than a 1 ton, etc etc.

However, if the tow rig is not properly set up it is unsafe. Pulling with a heavier truck will mask the issues the majority of the time... but it is still unsafe.

I didn't twist your words, I didn't pull them out of context. I simply disagree with your blanket statement that a 3/4 ton truck is inherently safer as a tow vehicle than a half ton. I never said a relaxed driver is reckless. Quite the contrary. I am very relaxed when I tow... but I pay attention. A dumbass that is unaware he is a dumbass and pulling something that he isn't prepared to handle is reckless.

Sounds like you might have a guilty conscience...

Where did I blanketly say that a 3/4 ton is safer? I did say this: "The one part we do agree on is that an idiot can screw up towing regardless of TV"

Do I have a guilty conscience? Nope. I know my hitch is set up correctly, I know everything has been weighed. I know everything is solid. I THOUGHT that was the case in the F150 (weights were right, it just didn't hold up). I was simply stating that I feel better driving the 3/4 ton and can tell the difference when towing. As I also said that is a PREFERENCE thing that makes ME more comfortable.